Lack of believable characterization dominates my dislike for this William Castle movie that has to be seen to be believed. It deals with the life of a small person (Paul Dale), referred to as a midget throughout, and getting further agitated every time somebody tries to exploit him for his size. If it isn't his widowed father and self absorbed sister, it's the sexy neighbor who gets him involved in a pickpocket ring, the imperiously large woman boss and various freak show owners he encounters. It isn't until he is able to come to terms with his size (which means him joining the circus to try to lead a normal, honest life where he begins to find some happiness, even though he had found a true friend and honest living (shining shoes) while exploring the big world to find his place in it. The film is mixed with a definite feeling of exploitation yet other than his frustrated father (a young Will Geer), shoeshine business partner (Steve Brodie) and the circus owner he meets towards the end of the film, none of the normal sized characters feel at all real.
The film is mixed with pathos and humor and a horribly exploitative title song sung by Dale that is forced on him with no heart. The humor is a mixture of moments that will make you feel guilt should you laugh, and one moment involving the grotesque Florence Auer who gets a surprise of her own when she drunkenly and cruely patronizes him for his size. That is the one truly outstanding moment in the film, and I have a feeling that in certain moments, how Dale reacts to her got applause. Anne Sholter, as the diminutive Mae West circus performer, vamps Dale from the moment she meets him, and it is done in such an unbelievable manner that will have you cringing. As the femme fatale neighbor who uses her femininity to practically seduce Dale into becoming a pick-pocket, Lorraine Miller gives a remarkably horrible performance, doing everything but rolling her eyes up and down like a cartoon character vamp. Nina Koshetz completely overplays her role as the huge crime ring leader in such a way, I wanted to see her off the screen and taken down more than she is when her storyline involving Miller ends its cycle.
The only actor not understanding of Dale who makes any impact is Will Geer ("The Waltons") as his father, trying to come to terms when they go to a doctor to find out what's wrong with Dale. As for the character of Dale's sister, she reminded me of a combination of Baby Jane Hudson and Rhoda from "The Bad Seed" in temperament and manner, and Shirley Mills, as the teen version of that character, is another one completely forgettable in her screechy acting performance. Even the characters of the two leading little people in "Freaks" got more humane treatment from the writer, and the direction by cult favorite William Castle is definitely his worst. Watching this film made me want to re-visit the "Golden Girls" episode with talented actor Brent Collins as a doctor who happened to be of small stature who saw the big world surrounding him with dignity, as well as his "Another World" character of Wallingford who while used for comic relief was truly beloved by the other actors and characters they played because of his humanity. Other than a few characters here, this film really has no humanity whatsoever and because of that becomes a near "Bomb".
The film is mixed with pathos and humor and a horribly exploitative title song sung by Dale that is forced on him with no heart. The humor is a mixture of moments that will make you feel guilt should you laugh, and one moment involving the grotesque Florence Auer who gets a surprise of her own when she drunkenly and cruely patronizes him for his size. That is the one truly outstanding moment in the film, and I have a feeling that in certain moments, how Dale reacts to her got applause. Anne Sholter, as the diminutive Mae West circus performer, vamps Dale from the moment she meets him, and it is done in such an unbelievable manner that will have you cringing. As the femme fatale neighbor who uses her femininity to practically seduce Dale into becoming a pick-pocket, Lorraine Miller gives a remarkably horrible performance, doing everything but rolling her eyes up and down like a cartoon character vamp. Nina Koshetz completely overplays her role as the huge crime ring leader in such a way, I wanted to see her off the screen and taken down more than she is when her storyline involving Miller ends its cycle.
The only actor not understanding of Dale who makes any impact is Will Geer ("The Waltons") as his father, trying to come to terms when they go to a doctor to find out what's wrong with Dale. As for the character of Dale's sister, she reminded me of a combination of Baby Jane Hudson and Rhoda from "The Bad Seed" in temperament and manner, and Shirley Mills, as the teen version of that character, is another one completely forgettable in her screechy acting performance. Even the characters of the two leading little people in "Freaks" got more humane treatment from the writer, and the direction by cult favorite William Castle is definitely his worst. Watching this film made me want to re-visit the "Golden Girls" episode with talented actor Brent Collins as a doctor who happened to be of small stature who saw the big world surrounding him with dignity, as well as his "Another World" character of Wallingford who while used for comic relief was truly beloved by the other actors and characters they played because of his humanity. Other than a few characters here, this film really has no humanity whatsoever and because of that becomes a near "Bomb".